Extensively drug-resistant and heat-resistant Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium in ready-to-eat meat products

The presence of extensively drug-resistant and heat-resistant Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium in ready-to-eat meat products poses a significant public health risk due to their ability to survive thermal processing, persist in the food chain, and disseminate antimicrobial resistance, thereby increasing the risk of foodborne transmission and limiting treatment options. This study evaluated the prevalence, heat-resistance, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance profile of Enterococc